Print machine



Jan. 15, 1924.

, H. H. DOERING PRINT MACHINE Filed Aug. 15. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 1 1,481,127 H. H. DOERING PRINT MACHINE Jan. 15, 1924.

Filed Aug. 15 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y .b Q :i, i i

Jan. 15, 1924- 1,481,127 H. H. DOERING PRINT MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'Fied Aug. 15; 1921 Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. DOERING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PBIN'I MACHINE.

Application filed August 15, 1921. Serial No. 492,252.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. DOERING, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Chicago, in the county of ook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Print Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of my specification.

My invention relates to a machine more especially intended for forming and producing butter prints; the invention having for its object the provision of a construction whereby the formed butter or prints will be of uniform density or compactness and therefore of uniform wei ht.

One object of my invention is to provide a. machine whereby the texture and consistcncy of the butter will be improved and the machine arranged to suit atmosphenc conditions or temperatures and therefore to suit the condition or consistency of the butter which is being forced through the machine; that is to say, the invention contemplates, among other things, means whereby the pressure on the butter may be increased or diminished in ac-ordance with its hardness or softness, so that uniform strips or ribbons of butter may be discharged through the discharge orifice or throat of the moulding-head so that the prints resulting from the cutting or print-forming means will he of uniform weight.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the moulded butter will be so acted on in its passage through the machine as to cause a sealin of the pores to prevent bleeding and therefore to over- 4 come the production of what is known as leaky butter.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the discharged ribbon of butter will be uniformly cut into prints 5 of the desired size; the movable portion of the cutting mechanism being made to travel or operate at a speed commensurate with the speed of discharge from the mouldinghead of the machine.

The above enumerated objects as well as the advantages of my invention will all be more readil comprehended from the detailed description of the'drawings where- 1n Figure 1 is a top plan view of my imconstruction.

proved machine, with the driving mechanism broken away and a portion of the wrapping table shown. I

igure 2 is a side elevation of the construction as disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 66-of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the discharge end of the main portion of the machine.

Figure 8 is a detail view in perspective of the pressure regulating means, and

Figure 9 is a detail view in perspective of {)le discharge end or throat controlling mem- The invention, as exemplified in the drawings, comprises a suitable supporting table or platform 15 on which is mounted a frame or housing 16 provided with semi-circular channels or grooves in the bottom thereof, as shown in Figure 8 at 17; the channels or grooves being disposed lengthwise of the housing 16 and partially separated by means of th vertically disposed rib 18 extending longitudinally of the housing 16. The housing 16 at one end thereof is closed to provide suitable bearings as at 19 for the rotatably mounted worms 20, 20, which are arranged parallel in the bottom of the semicircular grooves or channels 17, 17 and extend from end to end of the housing 16. The worms 20, 20 are intended to be rotated toward each other by driving mechanism, not shown, which may be of any suitable The housing 16 is provided with a top 21 which in turn is provided with a longitudinal opening therein disposed lengthwise of the worms and more generally in alignment with the portion intermediate of the worms 20, 20 as more clearly shown in Figure 1. The opening in the top is surrounded by a vertically disposed frame or portion 22 formed integral with or otherwise secured to the main portion of the to 21, thus providing a suitable wall about the opening through which the material or butter is to be fed; The opening enclosure or wall 21 is shown provided with a plurality of removable pressure plates or members 23, 24, 25 and 26 whose lower sides are cut away in semi-circular manner to fit the contour of the worms 20, 20 and therefore to conform with the semi-circular grooves17, 17 in the bottom of the housing, so that the forward end of the housing will be provided with a pair of cylindrical passages, communicating with each other by the narrow longitudinal openin between the vertically disposed rib 18 in the bottom of the housing 16 and the downwardly disposed portion or rib 27 formed on the bottoms of' the top 21 and the removable plates or members 23, 24, 25 and 26; the rib on the bottom of the innermost plate or member 26, as well as the semi-circular grooves, being preferably cut away or flared,to the outer side of the plate or memberin the upwardly disposed direction shown at 28 in Figures 7 and 8. In thus forming the plate 26 as described, a flared end to the cylindrical passages is provided which will ensure the self-feeding of the material or butter through the housing when the worms 20, 20 are revolved. In order that the members or plates 23, 24, 25 and 26 may be properly positioned in the frame 22, provide the frame on the interior thereof with a shoulder 29 on each lon gitudinal side thereof, while the plates or members 23, 24, 25 and 26 are kerfed as at 30 in Figure 8 to receive the shoulder 29 and thereby maintain the plates in proper spaced relation with the bottom of the frame or housing 16.

The plates or members 23, 24, 25 and 26, as well as the end wall 22 of the opening enclosure wall or frame of the top, are all apertured for the passage of a suitable bolt or fastening member 31 held in place in any suitable manner, as for example by means of the butterfly nut 32, see Figures 7 and 8, and in order that there may be no protrusions on the outer face of the innermost plate 26, the latter is provided with a countersunk portion about. the aperture to receive the head of the bolt 31. As the worms 20, 20 are intended to be in intimate relation with the bottom of the housing 16 as well as the sides and top, they therefore need not be journaled at the inner ends; The plates or members 23, 24, 25 and 26 will cause the butter ormaterial fed through the machine to be subjected to pressur which must be consistent with the condition of the butter, namely whether in a hard or a soft condition, in order that the compactness of the butter may be controlled and the discharged ribbon and resultant prints thereby all caused to be of substantially uniform weight. For this reason the members 23 to 26, inclusive, ar made removable so that the pressure on the butter may be controlled or regulated; that is to say when the butter isfiin more or less soft condition, the number of plates or members is reduced so as to lessen the'resistance to or pressure on the butter, while on the; other hand if the butter is in a hard state, the number of plates or members are increased in order that the greater pressure will be applied to the butter before it enters the moulding head or dis: charge throat of the machine.

The forward end of the housing or frame 16 adjacent the discharge ends of the worm is provided with a moulding head' 33 which is preferably shown made of suitable metal having a converging throat 34;the head being bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the housing or frame 16. In order that'a proper uniform. sized openin may be obtained so as to produce uni orm strips or ribbons of butter, the throat portion of the moulding headis provided with a block 35 adapted to move transversely of the throat, which is slotted in one side as shown at 36 in Figure 4 to permit the reduced end 35 of the block 35 to extend therethrough. In order that the block 35 may be adjusted to the proper position, the throat portion 34 of the moulding head is provided with a pivoted yoke or strap 37, see Figures'4 and 6; the central portion of the yoke or strap being provided with an apertured enlargement or boss 38 internally threaded toreceive the adjusting bolt or screw 39. The inner end of the bolt or screw is provided with a flange or washer 40 which is adapted to ride in a slot 41 formed in theend of v the block 35. With the construction just described, it is apparent that the block 35 i may be moved transversely of the throat in the direction desired by proper rotation of the screw or bolt '39. To ensure proper positioning of the block 35,.,I prefer to provide the same, on the top and bottom surfaces thereof, with similar slots. 42, see

Figure 9, adapted to'receive the heads of 7 bolts '43'which latter may also constitute the pivotal points for the yoke 37; aclamping relation being provided by means of butterfly or other suitable nutsas shown at 44 in Figure 4.

The three side walls of the moulding head 33, namely the sides other than that provided with the slot 36 for the reduced end of the block 35,are chambered to provide a water-receiving chamber asshown at 45 in Figures 2 and 7 and the moulding head is provided with a valved inlet-conduit 46 and a valved outlet-conduit 47 which communicate with the chamber 45 for admitted from a suitable source of supply by the conduit 46 and circulation through the head permitted by opening the valved conduit 47; It has been found in practice that by increasing the temperature the mould ing-head to a certain degree, W111 cause the butter passing through the mouldlng-head to have its outer surface so affected or acted upon as to seal the pores and thereby prevent the moisture within the cells of the butter from readily oozing out; that is to say, by properly tempering the mouldinghead, a smooth outer surface is provided on the moulded butter which will prevent bleeding, so that with m improved construction the production 0 what 18 known as leaky butter will be prevented.

Operatively disposed beyond the discharge throat of the moulding-head and mounted-on the supporting table or standard 15 are a suitable number of rotatably mounted rollers 4-8 disposed transversely of the frame and suitably journaled therein by means of the bearing-blocks 49.; These rolleis are intended to receive an endless belt 50 which is provided with a plurality of metallic prongs or fingers 51 arranged in pairs, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, and in alignment at opposite edges of the endless element orbelt 50. The different pairs of prongs or fingers 51 are arranged in predetermined spaced relation along both edges of the belt 50, while the spacing intermediate of the fingers of each pair, or the slots in each prong, are adapted to successively receive the wires 52 secured to the rims of the wheels 53, 53. The wheels 53 are identical in construction and mounted beyond opposite sides of the endless element or belt on a journal 54 supported by a suitable frame or standard 55 secured to opposite sides of the table or supporting frame 15. The rims of the wheels 53 are shown slotted or apertured at predetermined points, corresponding with the spaced relation between the difi'erent pairs of fingers or prongs 51. to receive the wires 52 which are held in taut condition by any suitable mechanism as for example the butterfly-nuts 56 threaded on the ends of the wires.

The moulding-block 35 with the throat of the moulding head is adapted to compress or mould the butter into strips or ribbons. rectangular in cross-section and of prearranged density or compactness and the cutting wires 52 with the fingers or prongs are so correlated that the moulded strip or ribbon of butter will be cut into lengths constituting pound prints. \Vith the cutting mechanism. comprising the endless element or belt and the wire-holding wheels, mounted to freely rotate. it is evident that movement of the endless belt will be induced by the action of the ribbon or strip of butter issuing from the mouldinghead; and as the wheels 53 are of predetermined size, at least one of the cutting wires will at all times be in engagement with or intermediate of a pair of prongs, so that movement of the belt 50 will necessarily cause rotation of the wheels 53 and therefore induce the respective cutting Wires 52 to successively come into cutting contact with the traveling ribbon or strip of butter. With this construction, it is apparent thatthe cutting mechanism will at all times operate at a speed commensurate with the speed at which the butter is moulded by and discharged from the moulding-head.

As it is frequently desired to provide butter prints of half pound or quarter pound sizes, I have devised an auxiliary cutting mechanism which is adapted to be removably securedto the throat of the mouldinghead 33 and in the particular exemplification this auxiliary mechanism comprises a frame portion 57 adapted to fit onto the throat or discharge end of the moulding; head and is secured in place by means of the bolts 43 with the clamping or butterfly nuts 44 which secure the'yokes 37 in place and also constitute guides for the mouldingblock 35, see Figures 3, 4 and 7. The frame member 57 is internally formed to constitute a continuation of the throat of the mouldinghead and is shown provided with a ledge or supporting plate 58 formed integral therewith or suitably secured thereto so as to provide means whereby the discharging butter may be properly conveyed onto theendless element or belt 50. The frame member 57 is shown provided with a pair of cutting wires or members 59 and 60 arranged at right angles to each other so as to intersect at the center of the throat opening of the moulding-head. The wires are held taut in any suitable manner. as for example by the threaded plugs or bolts and nuts as shown at 61; the wire 59 being disposed vertically while the wire 60 is arranged hori-' zontally; the two wires causing the throat opening to be divide'l into quarterportions as very clearly shown in Figure 4. thereby causing the butter issuing from the throat of the moulding-head to be cut into quarter sections so that when the quartered strip or ribbon is subjected to the action of the final cutting mechanism. to-wit the wires 52. the quartered sections will be cut into quarter-pound prints. If it is desired to produce half-pound prints, it is apparent that the vertically disposed wire 59, or the wire (30. may then be removed by simply unscrewing the nuts and the threaded plugs which hold the wire. so that the strip or ribbon of butter will then be halved. with the result that when finally subjected to the cutting wires 52. ha1fponnd prints of butter will be provided.

The prints will be delivered by the endless element or belt onto a receiving and wrapping table, a portion of which is shown at 62 in Figures 1 and 2, where the butter may be wrapped in parafline or other suitable paper and then placed in suitable cartons in the usual manner.

My improved machine as heretofore described and as illustrated in the drawings, is adapted to properly work and mould butter of varying consistencies or conditions,

' that is to say the machine is adapted to properly work and mould butter whether in a more or less soft'state or in a frozen or hard state; it being essential in machines of this type to provide a construction whereby the butter will be properly and sufficiently worked to'improve the texture and consistency thereof. This can readily be accomplished by lengthening or shortening the worm enclosing portion of the machine, namely the portion where the butter i subjected to working pressure; it having een found in practice that the working pressure must be increased in proportion to the hardness of the butter and for that reason the number of plates are increased according to the degree of hardness. On the other hand,

' the number of plates must be decreased in proportion'to the softness of the butter so 'as' to shorten the working portion of the machine and therefore'to lessen the working pressure or' resistance to the butter. In the drawings and more particularly in Figure 8, the end wall 22 of the top of the housing v grooves produced thereby. It is also apparent that the temperature of the heating water passed through the chamber 45 of the moulding-head 33 maybe varied in ac- ..cordance with general atmospheric condibest embodiment of my inventioni tions and the condition of the'butter.

I have illustrated what I believe to be the having described the same in termsemp oyed as terms of description and .not as terms of v limitation, as structural mod fications are' possible an i maybe made.w1thout,however.-

departing from the spirit of -Wh at I claim is 1. A machine of the character described,

my invention.

- comprising a butter-receiving housing having screw-worm.receiving grooves and 'a bottoms to extend about the tops of the butter-intro'ducin opening in the top, the top wall ofthe ousing being formed in vertically disposed sections, the bottoms whereof have surfaces conforming with the grooves in the bottom of the housin to subject the butter passing therethrou to pressure, saidsections being removabfi secured in place in order that the length of the pressure-appl ing portions of the hous 4 ing may be regu ated, 'meanswhereby said sections may be held in place against moves ment, a chambered mouldi head secured to the delivery end of sail? housing, and means whereby a heating medium may 1cli'ratliiilated through the chamber of said 2. ,A machine of the character described, comprising a butter working housing provided wit a pair of parallelly disposed worm screws, an opening in said housing above said screws or the introduction of the butter, a lurality of vertically disposed sections or p ates removably secured in the top opening and provided with concaved worm screws, said plates being adapted to regulate the length of the worm-enclosing portion or housing and control the pressure applied to the butter, means whereby said sections or plates are removabl secured in place, a moulding head'provi ed with an open side, and a throat member slidably mounted in said head to constitute a laterally adjustable throat whereby to form and determine the size of the mass of butter delivered therethrou h.

3. A machine 0 the character described, comprising a butter-receiving casing having an opening in its top, a pair of parallel worm-recelving grooves in the bottom, worm-screws disposed lengthwise in said grooves and in slight. spaced relation, with the space between the screws disposed immediately beneath the opening in the. to a plurality of Vertically. disposed removab e 110 sections or plates mounted in said opening and provided with dished bottoms conforming with the contour of the worms andconstituting the top wall of the worm-grooves whereby to regulate the pressure on the 11 butter, a moulding head secured to the delivery end of the casing, said moulding head being provided with a water chamber in its walls, and means whereby circulation of hot water through said chamber may be controlled. 4. Amachine of the character described, comprising a water-receiving housing having aremovable top provided with an opening disposed lengthwise thereof, a pair of worm-screws rotatably mounted lengthwise of the casing and in slight spaced relation, with the space intermediate of the worms disposed centrally beneath the opening in the top a plurality of removable inter- 1. 0

to provide an adjustable throat where-by to. determine the size and form of the butter issuing from the moulding head, a regulating screw-carrying frame disposed about the end of said block, and means removably secured to the moulding head whereby the moulded butter may be cut into a pre selected number of sections, in combination with means whereb the delivered butter may be automatica 1y cut into predetermined lengths.

5. In a machine of the character described, a moulding head provided with an open .side, a. block slidable through said open side to provide an adjustable outlet controlling member, a yoke pivotally secured to the moulding head and disposed about the end of said block and having controlling relation therewith, a frame removably secured to the outlet end of said moulding head and provided with removable cutting wire-holding means adjustably mounted therein.

6. In a machine of the character described, a moulding head provided with a regulable outlet, the walls of the head being chambered and arranged to have hot water circulate therethrough, one side of the outlet end of the head being open, a yoke pivotally secured to the head and disposed transversely, a slotted block slidable transversely of the outlet, means carried by the oke, havin controlling relation with the block where y the latter may be moved laterally of the head, guide means in the head adapted to extend into the slots of the block, a frame removably secured to the moulding head and disposed forward of the outlet of said head, said frame being provided with cutting wires arranged in predetermined relation and disposed across the outlet opening of the moulding head, and means adjustably mounted in said frame for removablv securing the cutting wires-in place and maintaining them in taut condition.

7. In a machine of the character described, a butter-working casing provided with a top having a longitudinal opening therein and a worm-receiving channel in the bottom of the casing, a plurality of pressure-inducing plates disposed vertically in said opening, with the bottom edge of each plate being dished to constitute the top wall of the worm-receiving channel so as to regulate the length of the working pressure portion of the casing, and means whereby any one or' 8. A machine of the character described,

comprising a butter working portion provided with a moulding-head whereby the butter is formed into strips or ribbons of predetermined compactness and rectangular in cross section, in combination with cutting mechanism disposed beyond the discharge end of said moulding-head, said cutting mechanism comprising rotatably mounted means provided with a plurality of cutting wires disposed transversely, and an endless element provided with a plurality of prongs or fingers arranged at predetermined distances apart commensurate with the distance intermediate of the cutting wires of said mechanism, said prongs or fingers being adapted to engage with said rotatably mounted means whereb the latter is caused to rotate when said en less element is actuated through the movement of the ribbon or commensurate with the spacing intermediate of the cutting elements of said rotatably mounted means.

10. In a machine of the character described, cutting mechanism comprising a pair of concentrically mounted wheels arranged in spaced relation, cutting wires adjustably secured in predetermined spaced relation on the peripheries of said wheels, an endless element adapted to travel in a horizontal plane adjacent to the orbit of the wheels, said element being provided with projections disposed at an angle thereto and arranged at predetermined distances apart commensurate with the distance between said cutting wires so as to successively engage each succeeding wire whereb rotation of the wheels with the cutting wires is induced by the travel of said endless element.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising a butter working portion provided with a moulding-head and a delivery ledge or plate, in combination with an end less element mounted. in juxtaposition to element being adapted to be actuated by the movement of the butter issuing from said moulding-head, and cutting wire holding means rotatably mounted above said endless element, said cutting wire holding means being adapted to be actuated by the projec- 5 tions on said endless element.

12.1n a machine of the character described, a butter-working portion comprising a casing provided with a pair of T- tatably mounted worms disposed lengthwise 1- thereof, said casing being provided with re- 1 channelswhereby the working pressure portion of the casing may be regulated, and a moulding head secured at the delivery end of said casing, said moulding head including means whereby the temperature of the moulding head may be increased.

13. A machine of the character described, comprising a butter working casing having a receiving opening in the top, revolvably actuated thereb portion of the section may be regulated, a

water chambered moulding-head removably secured'to the delivery endof said casing, an

orifice controlling block slidably mounted in said head, means whereby said block maybe held in adjusted position, an automatically controlled cutting mechanism disposed beyond said cutting head, said cutting mechanism comprising an endless element adapted to receive the delivered butter and to be and means rotatably mounted above t e endless element for cutting the strip of butter on the endless element into prints of predetermined size, said last mentioned rotatably mounted means being adapted to be actuated by the endless element.

HENRY H. DOERING.

Witnesses:

-Gr.. HnmMAN, F. A. From. 

